Post by merprincess on Nov 17, 2019 15:49:57 GMT -5
As it is the date of the 30th anniversary, I thought it would be fun to discuss all of our first memories with The Little Mermaid.
Seeing that I wasn't around in 1989, I would've first remembered seeing the film probably around 1997-1998. I also watched the reruns of the TV series on Disney Channel from that time all the way until they stopped airing it. I had more Ariel merchandise than any other Disney character, and this was before I realized she was my favorite or that I even loved the film in the way I do today. Anything ocean-related I had a huge connection with and my family instilled that love in me early on as we lived near the sea for a little bit in early early childhood (dolphins have always been my favorite animal). I had Ariel pj's, clothing, bags, dolls - which, when listing them off, doesn't sound like a lot of childhood merch because it wasn't! We really didn't have a lot anyway so it was crazy to have even two things devoted to one character, but I felt like I had a budding collection, which now has grown a bit but still remains relatively small.
The first years I watched the film, the scenes that impacted me the most back then were:
- the shark chase: I was frightened for little Flounder!
- Scuttle: almost every scene with Scuttle had me laughing so hard, he's still my favorite comedic relief Disney character.
- Triton: in a way, he reminded me of my dad. For better and worse. We've had our ups and downs, but we're at a much better place now and he's been such a big supporter of my artistic endeavors - even took me to Disneyland for the first time this year!
- Part of Your World: I thought it was the most beautiful thing I've ever heard, my eyes were glued to the screen. I'd try to sing along, but I didn't think I was good enough. For a LONG time. Crazy how my story has played out with this song years later!
- Ariel's vocalise ("ahhhhhh ahhhh"): whenever she sang this, I had goosebumps. My mom sang this to me from time to time, but she's not a singer and for some reason it made me laugh when she'd sing it, I think she was going for more of a comedic interpretation, so she would continue to sing it even more goofily on purpose every time to get a giggle out of me.
- Eric and Max: these two together made me happy. I never had a dog, I always wanted one and I loved seeing them interact together.
- Poor Unfortunate Souls: Ursula's polyp garden really freaked me out. And she herself was captivating to watch.
- Les Poissons & Chef Louis chasing Sebastian: another laugh-out-loud funny moment for little me. In a weird serendipity, years later I would get to dance to the same music (the Can-can) in the opera that it came from!
- Ariel seeing Vanessa and Eric: For whatever reason, this was one of two scenes where I would physically have to leave the room and couldn't bear to watch! My mom would ask me why I left, and I would try to explain but didn't really have the words. I was SO anxious. I'd yell at the screen and try to tell Ariel "that's URSULA!! Eric doesn't know!!", oh boy it stressed me out too much lol. and seeing Ariel sad made me wayyyy too sad, oof.
- Vanessa's Song & Scuttle's realization: this was the point I'd come back into the room after the prior scenes. I was happy finally somebody figured out what was going on and could tell Ariel! the whole stall the wedding scene was also stressful, but in a more hopeful way.
- Ariel getting her voice back: what a win! I could finally breathe again hahahaha (oh but what happens next?....)
- giant Ursula in the final battle: toooo too scary for little me! This was the other scene where I felt like I had to leave the room until it was over. This "leaving the room" phase of mine in general only lasted like one or two watches of the film, and I don't recall having to leave the room for other films/tv, I was just so emotionally invested in this one in every way!
What were some of your earliest TLM memories? Did you get to see the film when it premiered? What were your reactions to it? I'd love to hear your stories!
Seeing that I wasn't around in 1989, I would've first remembered seeing the film probably around 1997-1998. I also watched the reruns of the TV series on Disney Channel from that time all the way until they stopped airing it. I had more Ariel merchandise than any other Disney character, and this was before I realized she was my favorite or that I even loved the film in the way I do today. Anything ocean-related I had a huge connection with and my family instilled that love in me early on as we lived near the sea for a little bit in early early childhood (dolphins have always been my favorite animal). I had Ariel pj's, clothing, bags, dolls - which, when listing them off, doesn't sound like a lot of childhood merch because it wasn't! We really didn't have a lot anyway so it was crazy to have even two things devoted to one character, but I felt like I had a budding collection, which now has grown a bit but still remains relatively small.
The first years I watched the film, the scenes that impacted me the most back then were:
- the shark chase: I was frightened for little Flounder!
- Scuttle: almost every scene with Scuttle had me laughing so hard, he's still my favorite comedic relief Disney character.
- Triton: in a way, he reminded me of my dad. For better and worse. We've had our ups and downs, but we're at a much better place now and he's been such a big supporter of my artistic endeavors - even took me to Disneyland for the first time this year!
- Part of Your World: I thought it was the most beautiful thing I've ever heard, my eyes were glued to the screen. I'd try to sing along, but I didn't think I was good enough. For a LONG time. Crazy how my story has played out with this song years later!
- Ariel's vocalise ("ahhhhhh ahhhh"): whenever she sang this, I had goosebumps. My mom sang this to me from time to time, but she's not a singer and for some reason it made me laugh when she'd sing it, I think she was going for more of a comedic interpretation, so she would continue to sing it even more goofily on purpose every time to get a giggle out of me.
- Eric and Max: these two together made me happy. I never had a dog, I always wanted one and I loved seeing them interact together.
- Poor Unfortunate Souls: Ursula's polyp garden really freaked me out. And she herself was captivating to watch.
- Les Poissons & Chef Louis chasing Sebastian: another laugh-out-loud funny moment for little me. In a weird serendipity, years later I would get to dance to the same music (the Can-can) in the opera that it came from!
- Ariel seeing Vanessa and Eric: For whatever reason, this was one of two scenes where I would physically have to leave the room and couldn't bear to watch! My mom would ask me why I left, and I would try to explain but didn't really have the words. I was SO anxious. I'd yell at the screen and try to tell Ariel "that's URSULA!! Eric doesn't know!!", oh boy it stressed me out too much lol. and seeing Ariel sad made me wayyyy too sad, oof.
- Vanessa's Song & Scuttle's realization: this was the point I'd come back into the room after the prior scenes. I was happy finally somebody figured out what was going on and could tell Ariel! the whole stall the wedding scene was also stressful, but in a more hopeful way.
- Ariel getting her voice back: what a win! I could finally breathe again hahahaha (oh but what happens next?....)
- giant Ursula in the final battle: toooo too scary for little me! This was the other scene where I felt like I had to leave the room until it was over. This "leaving the room" phase of mine in general only lasted like one or two watches of the film, and I don't recall having to leave the room for other films/tv, I was just so emotionally invested in this one in every way!
What were some of your earliest TLM memories? Did you get to see the film when it premiered? What were your reactions to it? I'd love to hear your stories!
